Think back to when you were in high school. Do you remember scanning a key card through a turnstile to mark yourself present for the day? Or hiking up 10 flights of stairs to get to class?

For students like me, that is just a normal school day.

Arthur Phillip High School, Parramatta student Evelyn Tran is in year 10.Credit: James Brickwood

When I first walked in to Arthur Phillip High School in the Parramatta CBD as a 12-year-old, the building felt overwhelming. The height, the layout and the flow of people between levels were all things I had to get used to.

All of this may sound unusual for a high school – after all, those experiences are more like entering a modern office building.

Arthur Phillip is NSW’s first high-rise public high school, so that makes our schooling experience a little different to others’.

We start our day by taking the train, bus or light rail to Parramatta station then walking for about seven minutes. When we get to the gates, though, things work a little differently.

The high-rise Arthur Phillip High School in Parramatta.Credit: SMH

Instead of a traditional roll call, we use our key cards to mark our attendance for the day. If you forget your card, are running late or not........

© The Sydney Morning Herald